My CVS stores tend to advise only cash payments for some cards. It was a long time ago when I tried so I can't remember what "debit" type card I tried to buy. Not one to contend with CVS staff anymore.

I can buy an AMEX GC with a credit card sucessfully. Is this VR card in the same camp?

So, just for review. The point is to use the rewards CC of choice, buy a large value VR, pay a $3.95 fee. Then, turn around and buy an AMEX Blue Bird card and set up an account to pay normal expenses? Did I get it right? I'm not clear on a vast benefit, though.

Is it so one can pay bills by churning off the original credit card for the bill pay (like a mortgage which cannot be paid by CC) to collect the reward points/miles? Or did I miss it? THANKS! :)

I meant to add I recently received a new SW CC card and am looking to spend $2k to get those bonus miles tucked into my RR account ASAP. Would this strategy work?

Now, I'm pissed. There are 4 store within 5 mile radius around my house, the 3 store have knowledgeable cashier who careless how many beans I bought as long as I swipe the id. The 1 store, nearest one from my house, is a basket case, some clerk just processed them, others refused & treat me like I'm a criminal. I tried to avoid this store as much as possible, yet, the other 3 stores has ran out of beans. I went to that store and try to buy 4, the clerk refused, "you can't buy 4 with credit card" she said. I asked her, "how many is the limit?" expecting at least she let me buy 2. "For you, None, you can see the manager tomorrow."

W T F, That's it, I'm seeing this manager tomorrow, I'll have him call his district manager if I have to.

Maybe don't use a scissors. I use a Presidential $1 coin. Works like a champ.

You've got the general idea. People use a combination of VR+BB for a number of reasons, some of which you highlighted. This allows you to earn points indirectly when paying bills that don't accept credit card payment, meet spending requirements for bonuses, etc. Some people do an immediate churn to pay off the credit card they used to buy the VRs. The debate among FlyerTalk members on the true value of points/miles and whether or not it's worth it will continue. :)

I see you've listed PHL. Which general area is this? In Bucks County most of the CVS locations don't have a problem with credit card payments, but there have been one or two locations that have balked at using a card.

I think I still have one of those somewhere around here from 3 years ago... :D

People who do more than $5000 / month of VR, are they minority or the most of them....

Northeast Philly, this is the only store I have problem so far, the one near my work place have the 1k/day rule which I gladly obey. As I said others place within 5 mile radius didn't give me any problems, only this particular store. I had this particular store manager handled my beans purchase previously and called the cc company to verify the purchase, it went through just fine.

Given the turnover at most of these stores, you just have to wait a month or two to get someone new if you have a difficult clerk. :D

That won't work, the new clerk will call the difficult clerk whether he/she should process the transaction.

The thing that pissed me of, this is the nearest one on my house, only 5 minutes drive & they have tons of beans. I'll confront the manager soon and get him to make it consistent whether to refuse beans with cc purchase or get those clerks to ring me up. Worse come to worse, I'll borrow some of their beans & fill them in the other store.

That wouldn't be advisable. That's theft.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...e-another.html

I bought $5,000 yesterday and $5,000 today from the manager at my local store. He knows me now - asks me how the kids are doing, etc. I don't sweat it for a moment.

make that stores and across multi states.

BTW, as I pointed out if CVS did not want this to happen they would scan ID on all GC purchases. If you have nothing to hide then scanning your ID is't a big issue.

From speaking to some people in this hobby at a conference there are many people who buy more then 5K/m most have more then one BB card. I do 20K of bean a month and I use two different CCs and it takes me the whole month to do this.

A $4.95 monthly fee will be applied against unredeemed funds at the beginning of the 13th month after purchase unless prohibited by law.

Not that this should effect anyone on this forum,since we WILL load these well before 13 months.

A few of the CVS in Milwaukee are requiring cash only on ANY gift card purchase!
Honestly i have been buying from cvs for a year and recently it has become a big pain! If i am able to buy them i feel very lucky now wheras before it was just normal to find them and buy them. It has really become a wild goose chase and with each store making up their own policies its really a crap shoot. Soon i will be spending more in gas then on the vr fees if this keeps up. I have even explained to the dumbass kid store manager there is a fn id scan at $1000 to prevent the fraud your concerned with here is my id i live mile down the road in a nice part of town-google my address if u want. If i could just go in and buy $5000 and have my wife buy $5000 and be done for the month i would love it!! I cant even buy a $25 dunkin donuts card with a cc at stores now lol!! How pathetic and inconvenient. Its even hard to know when to apply for new cards because now im not confident i can hit the spend if going for a decent apporama. hope you guys can sense my frustration. At what point do you decide to stop looking or wasting time and gas?

The point where the happiness derived from your dream vacation(s) purchased at a affordable price does NOT outweigh the sheer mind splitting, blood pressure raising agony and time spent chasing down Vr cards. I remember when I would hit 5 CVS a day @1k each months ago during the weekends and it would take me a whole month sometimes depending on numerous factors. The 5k a day made my life easier and as many post have indicated 5k + $999 +$999 etc... can make it even easier for others,but like they say in real estate location location location so some are out of like if they dont have VRs near them or if their CVS has a stringent policy on selling VRs.